Jesus

God’s Word is amazing, powerful, relevant, convicting and encouraging. We turn to it in tough times, make wall plaques, posters & t-shirts of our favorite verses. We memorize some of it and quote it to each other. Still, other parts seem strange, old fashioned, and just boring. We are tempted to skip over them in our personal study. This week’s passage is kind of like that.

But buried in this final paragraph of Colossians is an astounding verse that will reignite any Jesus’ follower’s prayer life. After you work through the conviction of it, it can renew your passion and sharper your focus in prayer. Let’s take a look:

Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

…Always laboring earnestly… WOW!

“The meaning of marriage is the display of the covenant-keeping love between Christ & His people.” John Piper

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Colossians 3:18-19

The two verses above have been a landmine for many. That is NOT what God intends. Really they are a specific application of the overarching instruction in verse 17 about living a Jesus centered life. Last week I read this statement, “It would be a bold person who would claim that the modern secular world offers a better model for marriage and family life than what God calls for in the Bible.”

Many marriages are in sad shape in our world. People still dream of happily ever after marriages. But most fall short and many are afraid. More settle for “trial run” relationships without the kind of commitment that define true marriage from God’s perspective. We have either given up, or changed God’s standard. As a result, we miss the deeper joy and core intimacies through embracing Satan’s cleverly seductive lies.

Everyone hopes for a great life. We look different places and try different things searching to make that a reality. We drop some things right away discovering they weren’t what we thought. Other things seem good for a while but then either fade in effectiveness or turn on us.

Life seems like an unsolvable puzzle with the nagging sense that it is supposed to be better.

As a Jesus follower of nearly 45 years, I believe the centering my life on Jesus has hacked life’s puzzle. Jesus is Your Best Hope of a Secure & Significant Life. Why should anyone center their life on Jesus? Let me share some big reasons why.

When our 18th street facility was being built. Used to walk and pray over the site frequently. I mostly prayed that it would be a place where Jesus is always be honored, where the gospel is proclaimed, His word always taught and lives would be transformed. As long as I’m here, I will work towards that end.

Life change through Jesus’ word is a core mark of any who follow Jesus. In fact Jesus says that without it you aren’t really one of His followers. That was the focus of last weekend’s lesson. Here are the core points.

John 8:31-32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

2John 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

BOTTOM LINE: Following Jesus Includes a Life-long Commitment to Learn & Live His Word.